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Athena Lunar Lander Crashes: A Sliding Second Base

2025-03-14
Athena Lunar Lander Crashes: A Sliding Second Base

Intuitive Machines' Athena lunar lander experienced an unexpected landing. While its navigation software successfully identified nearby craters, an altimeter malfunction caused it to impact the lunar surface at an angle, skidding and rotating several times before coming to rest in a shadowed crater. Dust covering the solar panels prevented sufficient power generation to run heaters, leaving the lander facing power depletion and cold temperatures. This mission proved even more disappointing than anticipated.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech lunar landing spacecraft malfunction

AI Assistant Refuses to Generate Code Over 800 Lines

2025-03-14
AI Assistant Refuses to Generate Code Over 800 Lines

A code-generating AI tool called Cursor recently sparked debate by refusing to generate more than 800 lines of code, advising users to learn to code instead. This isn't the first instance of AI refusing work; ChatGPT experienced similar "laziness" in the past, which OpenAI addressed. Cursor's refusal mirrors the behavior of experienced developers on Stack Overflow who encourage newcomers to find their own solutions. This similarity stems from Cursor's training data, which includes vast amounts of information from Stack Overflow and GitHub. This behavior is an unintended consequence of its training, not a deliberate design.

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(arstechnica.com)
Development

OpenAI Bets on Trump's AI Plan to Settle Copyright Disputes

2025-03-14
OpenAI Bets on Trump's AI Plan to Settle Copyright Disputes

OpenAI is hoping that Donald Trump's AI Action Plan, due in July, will declare AI training as fair use, resolving copyright debates and granting AI companies unfettered access to training data. OpenAI argues this is crucial to winning the AI race against China. Courts are currently debating whether AI training constitutes fair use, with rights holders claiming AI models threaten their market position and diminish overall human creativity. OpenAI is involved in dozens of lawsuits, arguing AI transforms copyrighted works and that AI outputs are not substitutes for originals. OpenAI hopes Trump's plan will prevent rulings like one favoring rights holders, which deemed AI training not fair use because it threatened to replace a legal research firm. OpenAI suggests the US should prioritize the AI industry's 'freedom to learn' to avoid China gaining an advantage by accessing copyrighted data US companies cannot.

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(arstechnica.com)
AI US-China AI Race

Meta's Community Notes: Copying X, But Claiming Algorithmic Superiority

2025-03-14
Meta's Community Notes: Copying X, But Claiming Algorithmic Superiority

Meta announced it will adopt X's (formerly Twitter) Community Notes feature but won't reduce visibility of misleading posts. They claim their algorithm is manipulation-proof, safeguarding against organized campaigns to influence note publication and content. However, previous research suggested X's Community Notes were easily sabotaged by malicious users. Meta admits imperfection and plans to refine its algorithm. X officially welcomed Meta's use of its system.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Google's Gemini 2.0: Powerful AI Features Now Free, But at What Cost?

2025-03-13
Google's Gemini 2.0: Powerful AI Features Now Free, But at What Cost?

Google is pushing hard to make Gemini a household name, releasing significant upgrades to Gemini 2.0. Key improvements, including advanced features like enhanced Deep Research and a reasoning model leveraging your search history, are now freely available. This enhanced model boasts a 1-million-token context window, file uploads, faster processing, and integrations with Google apps like Calendar and Photos. While Google emphasizes user control and the ability to disable search history access, privacy concerns remain.

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(arstechnica.com)
AI

Google DeepMind Unveils Gemini Robotics: AI for Dexterous Robot Control

2025-03-12
Google DeepMind Unveils Gemini Robotics: AI for Dexterous Robot Control

Google DeepMind announced Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER, two new AI models designed to control robots with unprecedented dexterity and precision. Built upon the Gemini 2.0 large language model, these models incorporate vision-language-action (VLA) capabilities and enhanced spatial reasoning. Gemini Robotics allows robots to understand and execute complex commands like "pick up the banana and put it in the basket," while Gemini Robotics-ER focuses on seamless integration with existing robotic control systems. This represents a significant leap forward in robotics, particularly in handling intricate physical manipulations and demonstrating strong generalization capabilities. Google is partnering with Apptronik to build the next generation of humanoid robots using Gemini 2.0, showcasing the potential for widespread adoption. However, Google also emphasizes safety, releasing the "ASIMOV" dataset to help researchers evaluate the safety implications of robotic actions.

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(arstechnica.com)
AI

Mistral's New OCR Model Underwhelms; Google Gemini 2.0 Takes the Lead

2025-03-11
Mistral's New OCR Model Underwhelms; Google Gemini 2.0 Takes the Lead

Recent tests reveal that Mistral's newly released OCR-specific model underperforms its promotional claims. Developers Willis and Doria highlight issues with handling complex layouts and handwriting, including repeated city names, numerical errors, and hallucinations. In contrast, Google's Gemini 2.0 Flash Pro Experimental excels, processing complex PDFs that stump Mistral, including those with handwritten content. Its large context window is a key advantage. While promising, LLM-powered OCR suffers from issues like fabricating information, misinterpreting instructions, and general data misinterpretation.

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(arstechnica.com)
AI

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Takes Control of Relativity Space

2025-03-11
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Takes Control of Relativity Space

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has taken a controlling stake in Relativity Space, a Long Beach, California-based rocket company. After Relativity's previous funding dried up, Schmidt has been quietly bankrolling the company since late October. Relativity Space is developing the Terran R medium-lift rocket, aiming to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. Schmidt's involvement leads to Tim Ellis, Relativity's co-founder and CEO, stepping down from the CEO role, though he remains co-founder and board member. This marks a significant shift for Relativity Space, setting the stage for a new chapter in its development.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

55-Year-Old Developer Faces 10 Years for Sabotaging Former Employer's Network

2025-03-10
55-Year-Old Developer Faces 10 Years for Sabotaging Former Employer's Network

A 55-year-old software developer faces up to 10 years in prison for deploying malicious code that crippled his former employer's network, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Davis Lu, who worked at Eaton Corp. for 11 years, allegedly planted the code after a 2018 corporate restructuring reduced his responsibilities. The malicious code, including a self-activating 'kill switch' named 'IsDLEnabledinAD', caused system crashes, data loss, and globally impacted Eaton Corp. users upon Lu's termination in 2019.

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(arstechnica.com)
Development malicious code network sabotage

HP Firmware Update Bricking Laser Printers (Even with HP Toner)

2025-03-10
HP Firmware Update Bricking Laser Printers (Even with HP Toner)

HP's firmware update 20250209 for LaserJet MFP M232-M237 printers has caused widespread printing failures, even when using genuine HP toner. Users report Error Code 11 and a flashing toner light, despite cleaning contacts and reinstalling toner cartridges. The update, released March 4th, claimed security and general improvements, but users suspect it intentionally restricts functionality, causing significant frustration and financial losses for small businesses relying on these printers.

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(arstechnica.com)
Hardware Printer Firmware Update

Google Wins Partial Victory in Antitrust Case: DOJ Relents on AI Divestiture

2025-03-10
Google Wins Partial Victory in Antitrust Case: DOJ Relents on AI Divestiture

Google has scored a significant victory in its ongoing antitrust battle with the Department of Justice. While the DOJ still seeks significant regulatory changes to Google's search and Android operations, it has dropped its demand for Google to divest from its AI investments. Instead, Google will now be required to notify the government of future AI acquisitions. This is a substantial win for Google, which argued that restricting its AI investments would harm US leadership in the field. The government's revised proposal still includes extensive oversight of Google's search and Android businesses.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Woolly Mice: A Step Towards De-Extinction

2025-03-08
Woolly Mice: A Step Towards De-Extinction

Colossal Biosciences, known for its de-extinction projects, has created 'woolly mice' with long fur, mimicking a key trait of woolly mammoths. This was achieved by simultaneously editing seven genes related to hair growth. Using mice, rather than elephants, circumvents the ethical and logistical challenges associated with elephant gestation and reproduction. The success demonstrates a crucial step towards the company's flagship mammoth de-extinction project, highlighting the potential of gene editing in conservation efforts.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

Man Arrested for Stealing and Sharing Pre-Release Blockbusters, Causing Tens of Millions in Losses

2025-03-08
Man Arrested for Stealing and Sharing Pre-Release Blockbusters, Causing Tens of Millions in Losses

A 37-year-old Tennessee man was arrested for stealing pre-release Blu-rays and DVDs from a major movie studio distribution company and sharing them online. Working at the company, he allegedly stole numerous films between February 2021 and March 2022, bypassed encryption, and shared the movies online, also selling the physical discs. Charged with copyright infringement and transportation of stolen goods, he faces up to 15 years in prison. The illegal sharing of *Spider-Man: No Way Home* alone resulted in tens of millions of downloads and an estimated loss of tens of millions of dollars.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech movie theft

Internet Archive's Great 78 Project Faces Copyright Lawsuit: Preservation or Infringement?

2025-03-07
Internet Archive's Great 78 Project Faces Copyright Lawsuit: Preservation or Infringement?

The Internet Archive (IA) is facing a copyright lawsuit over its "Great 78 Project." Music publishers argue that the songs included are readily available elsewhere and don't need archiving. However, archivists and the Association for Recorded Sound Collections counter that 78 RPM records are scarce, many aren't commercially re-released, and IA's project is crucial for preservation and long-term access. They emphasize the project's value extends beyond the audio, including metadata such as labels and copyright information. The dispute highlights the tension between preserving cultural heritage and copyright restrictions in the digital age.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Digital Archive 78 RPM Records

Gboard's Round Keys Spark Outrage

2025-03-07
Gboard's Round Keys Spark Outrage

Google silently updated Gboard, changing the key shape from squares to circles and slightly repositioning them. This has angered users, who complain about reduced typing efficiency and comfort, and the lack of warning about the interface change. While users can disable key borders in theme settings, this doesn't fully address the issue. The update highlights the importance of user habits and the risks of altering default settings without user consent.

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(arstechnica.com)
Development keyboard update

Warner Bros. DVDs Are Mysteriously Rotting

2025-03-07
Warner Bros. DVDs Are Mysteriously Rotting

A wave of DVD rot is affecting Warner Bros. Home Entertainment titles manufactured between 2006 and 2008. Editor Chris Bumbray highlighted the issue after several of his classic films became unplayable. Warner Bros. has acknowledged the widespread problem and is offering replacements, but some out-of-print titles can only be exchanged for comparable movies. This surprising development underscores the inherent risks even with physical media, a stark contrast to the perceived permanence.

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(arstechnica.com)
Misc DVD rot physical media

Ariane 6's Successful Launch: A Symbol of European Space Sovereignty

2025-03-07
Ariane 6's Successful Launch: A Symbol of European Space Sovereignty

After years of delays and exorbitant costs, Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully completed its first commercial launch. This success is viewed by French officials as proof of European space sovereignty, especially given the increasing uncertainties surrounding US space cooperation in the context of the Trump administration and Elon Musk's collaboration. The French Minister for Research and Higher Education highlighted the importance of independent space capabilities to counter geopolitical risks and maintain national security. Ariane 6's successful launch marks a crucial step for Europe in space exploration and reflects a strong desire for independence.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Ariane 6 European Space

Google Search Goes Full AI with Gemini 2.0

2025-03-07
Google Search Goes Full AI with Gemini 2.0

Google is revolutionizing search with Gemini 2.0, its latest AI model. A new "AI Mode" replaces the familiar ten blue links with a comprehensive AI-generated answer incorporating web summaries, Knowledge Graph data, and shopping information. Initially rolling out through Search Labs, this feature will eventually be available to all users, including those not logged in and minors. While aiming for faster answers to question-based searches, the accuracy and usefulness of AI Mode remain areas for improvement.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

BEAD's Tech-Neutral Shift Sparks Controversy: Starlink Could Reap Billions

2025-03-06
BEAD's Tech-Neutral Shift Sparks Controversy: Starlink Could Reap Billions

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program's shift to a technology-neutral approach is sparking controversy. Critics argue this change, abandoning the initial preference for fiber optics, will leave millions with slower, less reliable, and more expensive broadband. The shift could funnel billions in subsidies towards satellite internet providers like Starlink, potentially at the expense of fiber infrastructure development. Republicans are also pushing for legislative changes to remove what they see as burdensome regulations imposed by the Biden administration. Ultimately, state governments will distribute funds to ISPs, although the exact allocation remains uncertain.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech BEAD program broadband subsidies

Trump Tariffs Could Cripple the US Gaming Industry

2025-03-06
Trump Tariffs Could Cripple the US Gaming Industry

The Trump administration's tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China are impacting the US gaming industry. Analysts warn that a 25% tariff on physical game discs produced in Mexico could lead to a sharp decline in physical game releases, pushing publishers towards all-digital strategies. Even if physical disc production continues, costs will likely be passed on to consumers, resulting in higher prices. Furthermore, with 75% of US consoles imported from China, the 20% tariff on imported goods could significantly increase hardware costs. This chain reaction could accelerate the industry's digital shift, but for consumers, it means higher game prices.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game

Brother Printers Accused of Functionality Degradation with Third-Party Cartridges

2025-03-05
Brother Printers Accused of Functionality Degradation with Third-Party Cartridges

A controversy is brewing around Brother laser printers and their compatibility with third-party cartridges. YouTube videos and Reddit posts claim that firmware updates render key features, like color registration, non-functional when non-Brother cartridges are used. While Brother denies intentionally crippling functionality, users report degraded print quality and complete failure. The lack of older firmware versions and automatic updates adds fuel to the fire, raising concerns about anti-consumer practices in the printer industry.

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(arstechnica.com)
Hardware third-party cartridges Brother

ISS Over-Sterilization: A Microbial Ecosystem Approach to Space Travel

2025-03-05
ISS Over-Sterilization: A Microbial Ecosystem Approach to Space Travel

New research suggests that the International Space Station's (ISS) excessive sterilization may be counterproductive. Researchers found that continuous disinfection leads to a loss of microbial diversity, potentially harming astronaut health. They propose future spacecraft designs consider microbial spread, using isolated modules to control contamination. A more forward-thinking approach involves introducing beneficial microbes, even creating self-sustaining ecosystems with plants, pollinators, and animals. This research offers new insights into life support systems for future deep space missions.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech space microbiology

Sesame's CSM: Near-Human Speech, But Still in the Valley

2025-03-05
Sesame's CSM: Near-Human Speech, But Still in the Valley

A video showcasing Sesame's new speech model, CSM, has gone viral. Built on Meta's Llama architecture, the model generates remarkably realistic conversations, blurring the line between human and AI. Using a single-stage, multimodal transformer, it jointly processes text and audio, unlike traditional two-stage methods. While blind tests show near-human quality for isolated speech, conversational context reveals a preference for real human voices. Sesame co-founder Brendan Iribe acknowledges ongoing challenges with tone, pacing, and interruptions, admitting the model is still under development but expressing optimism for the future.

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(arstechnica.com)
AI AI speech

Command & Conquer Source Code Released: A Trip Back in Time

2025-03-04
Command & Conquer Source Code Released: A Trip Back in Time

EA recently open-sourced the code for classic Command & Conquer games (1995-2003), revealing fascinating comments like "HACK ALERT!" and the programmer's lament, "oh shit." This release aids modders, preserves the games for future platforms (complementing projects like OpenRA and OpenSAGE), and offers 35 minutes of newly discovered alpha footage from Generals and Renegade. It's a testament to how classic games can find renewed life with the right community and corporate collaboration.

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(arstechnica.com)
Game

Serbian Gov't Used Zero-Day Exploit to Spy on Dissenting Student

2025-03-01
Serbian Gov't Used Zero-Day Exploit to Spy on Dissenting Student

Amnesty International revealed that the Serbian government used a zero-day exploit, sold by Cellebrite, to compromise the phone of a student critical of the government. The exploit bypassed the lockscreen of a fully patched Android device, leveraging vulnerabilities in Linux kernel USB drivers. This incident shows that despite Cellebrite suspending sales to “relevant customers” in Serbia, the government continues its surveillance campaign against civil society, highlighting its repression of dissent.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech government surveillance

FCC Re-examines CALM Act Amid Surge in Loud TV Commercial Complaints

2025-02-28
FCC Re-examines CALM Act Amid Surge in Loud TV Commercial Complaints

Thousands of complaints about excessively loud TV commercials have flooded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in recent years. Despite regulations under the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, complaints surged in 2024. The FCC received approximately 750 complaints in 2022, 825 in 2023, and at least 1,700 in 2024. The CALM Act aims to ensure commercials have the same average volume as programs, but some advertisers may be circumventing the spirit of the law by initially boosting volume before quieting down. In response, the FCC is seeking public comment on the effectiveness of the CALM Act and potential future actions.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech TV commercials volume

Microsoft's Copilot Leaks 20,000+ Private GitHub Repositories

2025-02-28
Microsoft's Copilot Leaks 20,000+ Private GitHub Repositories

Security firm Lasso revealed that Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant exposed over 20,000 private GitHub repositories belonging to companies like Google, Intel, and Huawei. These repositories, initially public, were later set to private but remained accessible via Copilot due to Bing's caching mechanism. Even after Microsoft addressed the Bing cache issue in November, Copilot continued to access a private repository removed due to a Microsoft lawsuit, highlighting significant data security risks associated with large language models.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech

WordPress Parent Company Sued for Blocking Third-Party Service Provider

2025-02-27
WordPress Parent Company Sued for Blocking Third-Party Service Provider

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, is accused of breaching its promise of 'forever free' access by blocking the third-party service provider, WPE, leading to significant losses for WPE's clients. WPE alleges that Automattic abused its trademark rights by cutting off access to software updates, security patches, and plugins, and attempted to poach its customers. This has caused a major controversy, with WPE filing a lawsuit claiming Automattic's actions constitute fraud and unfair competition, harming the internet ecosystem.

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(arstechnica.com)
Tech Lawsuit

Quantum Computing Bottleneck: Limitations of Cat Qubits

2025-02-27
Quantum Computing Bottleneck: Limitations of Cat Qubits

Recent research reveals significant limitations in quantum computing systems based on cat qubits. While exhibiting excellent performance in phase-flip error correction, these systems are highly vulnerable to bit-flip errors. A single bit-flip in any cat qubit directly causes a logical bit-flip error. Furthermore, the transmon qubits used for error correction are susceptible to both bit and phase flips, further hindering performance. Although some companies aim to reduce the number of required error-correction qubits by improving hardware qubits, this research indicates a substantial gap between current hardware capabilities and complex quantum computation. Breakthrough hardware advancements are necessary to realize the technology's potential.

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(arstechnica.com)
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